The Punjab and Haryana High Court has recently made notable efforts to tackle the increasing worries about noise pollution originating from religious sites, specifically gurudwaras, located in residential neighborhoods. This response comes after a petition raised concerns about the excessive and disruptive use of loudspeakers, negatively affecting the quality of life for nearby residents.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has recently taken significant steps towards addressing the growing concerns surrounding noise pollution emanating from religious establishments, particularly gurudwaras, within residential areas. This action follows a petition highlighting the excessive and disturbing use of loudspeakers, impacting the well-being of the local inhabitants.
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A bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerjee, has called upon the states of Punjab and Haryana to report back on the measures being implemented to address this issue. The Court’s request came during the proceedings of a petition filed by Abhilaksh Sachdev and another individual, which specifically pointed out the
“indiscriminate use of loudspeakers at excessive and intolerable volumes by a gurudwara”
in their locality.
“The status report be submitted by both the States by the next date of hearing as how many complaints have been received and the action taken on them in all districts of both the States,”
mandated the Court, emphasizing the necessity for a comprehensive response to this widespread concern.
The petitioners articulated their distress, stating they are
“grossly aggrieved by the alleged indiscriminate use of loudspeakers at excessive and intolerable volumes by a gurudwara in a residential area.”
The noise, they claimed, has adversely affected their health and that of others in the vicinity, creating a pressing issue that demands immediate attention.
Despite their efforts to address the situation through representations to the relevant authorities, the petitioners encountered a lack of action.
“The concerned authorities have chosen to be oblivious to such a significant issue of environmental damage which is affecting the health and lives of the people living in the vicinity,”
the petition elaborates, underlining the failure to acknowledge or mitigate the harmful effects of noise pollution.
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The Court’s intervention was also prompted by references to past directives issued by the Supreme Court regarding noise pollution, as well as its own judgments, such as the one in the case of Reet Mohinder Singh vs. State of Punjab from 2019. This case resulted in specific instructions aimed at curtailing noise pollution, including the regulation of sound levels from loudspeakers or amplifiers in temples, mosques, and gurudwaras.
Expanding the scope of the inquiry, the Court has also sought to ascertain whether the aforementioned 2019 judgment has been effectively implemented.
“Keeping in view the issue involved, we expand the scope and also implead the State of Punjab for giving its report whether the judgment dated 22.07.2019 rendered in CWP-6213-2016, Reet Mohinder Singh vs. State of Punjab and others (Annexure P-12) is being implemented,”
the Court pronounced, setting the stage for a more extensive review of the situation.
The case has been scheduled for further hearing on April 22, ensuring that the matter will continue to receive judicial attention until a satisfactory resolution is reached. Advocates Abhinav Sood, Achintaya Soni, and Nitesh Jaghria represented the petitioners, highlighting the legal expertise marshalled to address this public health issue. Meanwhile, the states of Punjab and Haryana were represented by Additional Advocate Generals Deepak Balyan and Saurav Khurana, respectively, demonstrating the significant legal and governmental involvement in resolving the ongoing challenges of noise pollution from religious sites.
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